Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Heads Up: Dealing with a Concussion

The frighteningterm being tossed around regarding our favourite athletes as of
lately is concussions. Marc-Andre Fleury is one of the biggest names in the NHL and missed 8 weeks with a concussion he received during a game in late
October. Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots is one of the latest
concussion victimsin the NFL.

How can a knock to the head be so serious?

The risk of having a concussion or traumatic
brain injury (TBI) has become a significant injury across Canada. Although they
are often viewed as minor,they can
have lasting, detrimental effects. Concussions have developed into complex
issues, in which one’s brain is injured as the result of a direct force to the
body, such as a blow to the head that causes a shaking or jarring to the brain.

There’s no set way to prevent a concussion
from happening. In sports, helmets only protect the bones of the skull, but they
do not protect the actual brain from experiencing trauma. It’s important to be
mindful of concussion symptoms.

Symptoms of a concussion can include:

·Headache.

·Dizziness and balance issues.

·Difficulty concentrating or thinking
clearly.

·Blurred vision.

·Insomnia or fatigue.

·Memory loss.

·Nausea or vomiting.

·Sensitivity to light and sound.

·An increase in anxiety and
irritability.

·Depression.

The full recovery from a TBI can last months
to years depending on the severity. Every single brain injury is unique. Each
will have different symptoms resulting in varying recovery time. It may seem
frustrating at times, but it’s important to stay positive and take various
stepsto help the recovery process
along.

Ability Online offers great services to help
deal with a concussion or TBI. There are multiple forums where members can chat
with each other and with professionals to understand this injurybetter.

Helpful resource pages are available
including a concussion handbook, better night sleep tips, and returning to
learning. We are also partnered with Holland Bloorview in order for parents to
have the best research about TBI’s available to them.

There’s no avoiding a concussion, no matter how
carful you may be. I suffered a concussion playing hockey in my teens and it was
so scary. The first minute after being hit I was in such a daze and had no idea
where I was. Thankfully, my symptoms didn’t last long and I was back to playing
in no time. For others it may take time and be frustrating to overcome, but
concussions can be defeated.